About who needs care: It's a long, long story, and I tend to talk too much. I'll attempt to keep this to the basics for a beginning. Diane (Dia) is 73. Her major health issues began in 2000 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. There was surgery, chemo, radiation. In 2023, she was in hospital and two rehab facilities for a total of six weeks. Once she returned home, she was never able to regain her former levels of energy and mobility. Oct, Nov, Dec2024, she was hospitalized three times with increasing lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. On 29Dec, she underwent surgery to remove her entire colon. We are now learning to adjust to life with a colostomy pouch. Dia is Type 2 Diabetic, but that is not a major concern. She is also emotionally and mentally challenged at time. There has been no official diagnosis, but most of the medical personnel with whom we have dealt these past three months definitely see signs of dementia. There is frequent confusion, memory loss, difficulty remembering day of week, confusion as to time of day, not remembering that she took meds 30 minutes prior. At present, she is essentially bed-bound relying on the colostomy pouch and diapers. I truly believe she has the physical capacity to be more mobile, but her emotional state is causing her to refuse the attempt. I am her primary caregiver. We are working now to establish at least weekly Home Health visits. I'm looking for occasional sitting help. It would involve being in the home, helping with toilet care, possibly emptying colostomy pouch, very simplistic beverage and nutrition needs, insuring medications are taken on schedule. Even that is not complicated. Services needed include: feeding, and bathing / dressing.
Bathing / Dressing
Feeding